16/01/2025
🇸🇮 Intervju s turističnim vodnikom Alan Premerl
Alan Premerl je vodnik z več kot dvajsetletnimi izkušnjami v turizmu. Vodi predvsem po Ljubljani, pa tudi drugih priljubljenih slovenskih destinacijah in občasno v sosednjih državah.
S širokim znanjem in številnimi jeziki (slovenski, angleški, italijanski in hrvaško-srbski jezik), vodi paleto različnih domačih in tujih obiskovalcev.
M: Kdaj si se odločil za kariero turističnega vodnika?
A: Na tečaj za vodnika po Ljubljani sem hodil leta 2002, izpit pa sem naredil v februarju 2003. Nacionalno licenco pa sem pridobil samo par mesecov kasneje - julija 2003. Se pravi, v roku parih mesecov sem naredil in lokalno in državno licenco.
M: Si takrat, ko si pridobival te licence, mislil, da boš dobrih 20 let kasneje še tako aktivan v turizmu?
A: V bistvu nisem ničesar pričakoval oziroma nisem delal dolgoročnih načrtov. V tistem času nisem imel stalne zaposlitve in ker me je turizem že od nekdaj zanimal - že kot otrok sem rad potoval in hodil na izlete, sem se tudi odločil za delo turističnega vodnika. Licenci sem opravil z namenom, da to postane glavni poklic, delo in primarni vir zaslužka.
M: Kaj pa je tisto, kar te po več kot 20 letih še vedno tako motivira, da z veseljem opravljaš ta poklic?
A: Še vedno z veseljem predstavljam znamenitosti Ljubljane ljudem s celega sveta. Kljub temu, da večinoma vodim isto destinacijo, so na ogledu drugi ljudje, z različnimi interesi, zato lahko znamenitosti predstavim na različne načine in je vsak obisk Ljubljane, vsako moje vodenje novo doživetje, novo avtorsko delo. Poleg tega me veseli, da srečujem nove ljudi, s katerimi se lahko zapletemo v pogovor o njihovim življenju, državi od koder prihajajo, kako živijo in podobno.
Sicer pa vodim slovenske skupine tudi v tujino, predvsem v Italijo in Avstrijo - dve državi, ki sta mi zelo všeč in sem ju že večkrat obiskal. V teh dveh državah imam vsako leto urejen POD, kar mi omogoča, da lahko tam delam.
M: Za vodenje tako različnih profilov turistov, moraš zagotovo imeti zelo široko znanje. Vem da te zanima antika – spomnim se čudovitega vodenja, ki si ga imel za člane društva ARGOS po ostankih antične Emone, pa me zanima, na kakšen način poglabljaš svoje znanje in na katere teme se najraje osredotočaš?
A: Ja, antika v Ljubljani me zelo zanima, tudi zato, ker zbiram rimske kovance, kar je istočasno odličen način za spoznavanje rimske zgodovine. V Ljubljani se pogosto pri raznih gradbenih delih odprejo tudi arheološke raziskave, ki vedno odkrijejo kaj zanimivega o življenju v antični Emoni in to me motivira, da kaj novega pokažem tudi pri svojem vodenju.
M: Ali znanje pridobivaš tudi na kakšnih izobraževanjih?
A: Ja, obiskujem razne tečaje in predavanja, kot na primer predavanje v Narodnem muzeju na temo politične propagande na rimskih kovancih. Na primer, če je kakšen cesar posebej častil katerega od rimskih bogov, so ga še posebej izpostavili na kovancih in podobno. Zelo rad povezujem različne informacije, ki jih lahko vključim v vodenje.
M: Kakšnih turistov se najbolj razveseliš na vodenju?
A: Ne bi izpostavljal samo ene vrste obiskovalcev. Za otroške skupine lahko rečem, da rad delam s petimi in šestimi razredi, ker jih vse zanima, radi sodelujejo, odgovarjajo na vprašanje, so motivirani in tudi sami sprašujejo. Zelo hvaležni gosti so tudi upokojenci, ki marsikaj vedo in jih tudi zelo veliko zanima, si radi vse ogledajo in z zanimanjem poslušajo. Najmanj me veseli delo s sindikalnimi izleti, za njih je seveda v prvi vrsti pomembno predvsem druženje.
M: Kaj pa je tisto, kar je pri vodniškem delu zate najmanj prijetno?
A: Izziv vodniškega dela je predvsem to, da moramo biti aktivni v vseh vremenskih pogojih, ne glede na to, ali je 20°C in sonce ali pa -10°C. Delati moramo v snegu, držju, vetru. Nekoč me je nekdo vprašal ali vodenje odpade v primeru dežja in odgovoril sem mu: »To ni tenis«.
M: Res je, ampak na žalost na vreme ne moramo vplivati. Kateri pogoji za delo pa se ti zdijo pomembni, da lahko vodenje resnično dobro poteka?
A: Veliko mi pomeni, da lahko skupina pride kar se da blizu lokacije, kjer se začne vodenje, ne da je do tam že cel sprehod. To je zelo pomembno, posebno pri starejših obiskovalcih. Potem seveda vsak turistični vodnik rad vidi, da je skupina točna, da ne zamuja. V primeru da zamudi, pa morajo razumeti, da je vodenje pač sorezmerno krajše, saj imamo vodniki tudi druge obveznosti. Poleg tega je optimalno, da skupina posluša, da jih zanima moja razlaga, da ni potrebno vpiti zato da te slišijo tisti, ki želijo slediti razlagi.
M: Še vprašanje za konec – kaj si kot tudristični vodnik želiš v prihodnosti?
A: Želim si dodobra spoznati in svojim vodenjem dodati še kakšno novo destinacijo.
M: Alan, najlepša hvala ker si si vzel čas za ta pogovor. Želim ti veliko uspešnih vodenj in prijetnih gostov. Za vse ki bi te radi poiskali, pa spodaj dodajam še tvoj kontakt:
Telefon: 041 837 944
Email: [email protected]
🇬🇧 Interview with Tourist GuideAlan Premerl
Alan Premerl is a tourist guide with more than twenty years of experience in tourism. He primarily guides in Ljubljana, but also in other popular Slovenian destinations and occasionally in neighboring countries. With extensive knowledge and fluency in several languages (Slovenian, English, Italian, and Croatian-Serbian), he leads a wide range of domestic and international visitors.
M: When did you decide to pursue a career as a tourist guide?
A: I attended the guide training course for Ljubljana in 2002, and I passed the exam in February 2003. I obtained the national license just a few months later, in July 2003. So, within a few months, I got both - the local and national licenses.
M: When you were acquiring these licenses, did you think that 20 years later you would still be so active in tourism?
A: Actually, I didn’t expect anything or make long-term plans. At that time, I didn’t have a permanent job, and since tourism had always interested me — I loved traveling and going on trips as a child — I decided to become a tourist guide. I obtained the licenses with the intention of making it my main profession and primary source of income.
M: What is it that still motivates you after more than 20 years to happily pursue this profession?
A: I still enjoy presenting the sights of Ljubljana to people from all over the world. Although I mostly guide in the same destination, the visitors are different, with varied interests, so I can present the sights in different ways, making each visit to Ljubljana, each of my tours, a new experience, a new creative work. Moreover, I enjoy meeting new people, and I can engage in conversations about their lives, the country they come from, how they live, and so on.
I also guide Slovenian groups abroad, mainly to Italy and Austria — two countries I really like and have visited many times. In both countries, I have a regular work permit (POD), which allows me to work there.
M: To guide such a wide range of tourists, you must have a very broad knowledge. I know you’re interested in antiquity — I remember a wonderful tour you gave to members of the ARGOS society through the remains of ancient Emona, and I wonder how you deepen your knowledge and what topics you focus on most?
A: Yes, antiquity in Ljubljana interests me a lot, partly because I collect Roman coins, which is also an excellent way to get to know Roman history. In Ljubljana, during various construction works, archaeological excavations often take place, revealing interesting things about life in ancient Emona, which motivates me to show something new during my tours.
M: Do you also acquire knowledge through any educational programs?
A: Yes, I attend various courses and lectures, such as a lecture at the National Museum on the topic of political propaganda on Roman coins. For example, if a particular emperor highly honored one of the Roman gods, they would feature this god on the coins, and so on.
I really enjoy connecting different pieces of information that I can incorporate into my tours.
M: What kind of tourists do you most enjoy guiding?
A: I wouldn’t point out just one type of visitor. For school groups, I can say that I enjoy working with fifth and sixth graders because they’re all very curious, eager to participate, answer questions, are motivated, and also ask their own questions. Retirees are also very appreciative guests — they know a lot and are very interested, they enjoy seeing everything, and they listen attentively. I least enjoy working with union trips, as for them, socializing is the most important aspect.
M: What is the least pleasant part of being a tourist guide for you?
A: The challenge of being a guide is mainly that we have to be active in all weather conditions, whether it's 20°C and sunny or -10°C. We have to work in snow, rain, and wind. Once someone asked me if tours are canceled in case of rain, and I answered, "This is not tennis."
M: That’s true, but unfortunately, we can’t influence the weather. What conditions do you think are most important for a tour to run smoothly?
A: It means a lot to me when the group can get as close as possible to the location where the tour begins, without having to walk too far. This is very important, especially for older visitors. Of course, every tour guide appreciates it when the group is punctual and doesn’t delay. If there is a delay, they need to understand that the tour will be shorter, as we guides have other commitments as well.
Additionally, it’s optimal if the group listens and is interested in my explanations, and I don’t have to shout for the people at the back to hear me.
M: One last question – what do you wish for in the future as a tourist guide?
A: I would like to explore and add a new destination to my tours.
M: Alan, thank you so much for taking the time for this conversation. I wish you many successful tours and pleasant guests. For anyone who would like to get in touch with you, here are your contact details:
Phone: 041 837 944
Email: [email protected]
